The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-11-05
THEY WILL PLEAD.
The Anarchists to Ask for Pardon.
Their Friends Putting the Pressure
on the Governor.
Pittsburg Develops New Sensa-
ton in the Great Case.
A Man Who Claimed to Have
Thrown the Haymarket Bomb.
The Young Men Who Sont the Loaded
Package to the Chief Justice
Confess to News.
paper Swindle.

Owens, an unpetentious carpenterat work
on house at Homestead, fell from the
roof of the building aud broke his neck.
Squire Oeflner was deputized to hold an
inquest, and today made report OF his in
yestigation. Owens, the deceased, il ap-
4 pears, came TO this city about one year ago,
some two or three days after the Hay
market riot at Chicago, in Il somewhat
dilapidated condition, representing him
self TO be a carpenter out OF n job. He at
once secured work at Homestead with j.
II. Mullc,t, and for year past has been
working steadily alongside of man named
Piper, or PieiiIcr, also carpenter. When
Owens began work he said he had just
come from Chicago, where Inc had n
brother living and seemed nervous and
startled at everything One day while
Pieifler and Owens were at work an officer
came 10 Homestead in search OF man on
a charge OF dcsertion. Seeing Owens and
not knowing what his man looked like,
the officer asked Mr.. Mullett who Owens
was and was told, whcreupon he went
away. The men at work heard that the
officer had asked who Owens was, and, ont
Of mischief, told him that an officer had
been after him. lie became very much
excited, and went 10 Mr.. Mullctt at once,
wanting what pay was due him and cN-
pressing a desire TO get away from Home
stead as soon as possible, but, when as
sured that he was not the man the officer
wanted he went 10 work again, SEEM
ingly contentcd. This conduct interested
Mr.. Pfeiiler, who was rooming rs well
-,
opportunity he began a systematic inquiry
ol Owens as 10 the cause OF alarm. In his
conversation pfciifcr yesterday sworc be
fore Squire Oeflner, in tine course Of the
inquest, that Thomas Owens said: "l am
very sorry for those anarchists in Chicago
who are now in Jail charged with throwing
bombs at the llaymarket riot. There arc
Others outside who are more To blame than
they. | was at the Haymarket riot, anl
am an anarchist, and say that threw Il
bomb in that riot"
Pfeiher was cautioned to keep the state
ment secret and for that reason hc did
not tell the story until after the death ol
Owens. Tho way the story happened 10
come out was that all the men employed
ON the building were standing around the
'squire's Office, having been summoned
there ~ witnesses IN the Owens inquest,
and while there PieilTcr and Mullctt began
talking Of this story.
81 heard the remarks" said the squire
60 Chronicle-Tclcgraph reporter this
morning, "and Immediately called Pfciilcr
10 the stand, swore him, and although II
had nothing TO do with the cause of Owens
death, yet under oath lac told the story !
have Just related"
The singular story Of the man Owens
was made the subject Of investigation at
Homestead thisaitenoon. Mr.. Piper mot
pfcilIer), who worked with Owens, says
that his testimony before the coroner in
quest was substantially ~ reported.
Owens says he was n man about twenty
eight years Of age, and said 10 him that hc
belonged 10 the same group Of anarchists
~ Spies and Parsons; that lac was present
at the Haymarkct meeting, handled the
bomb, aud was close 10 the man whc
threw IL. Impressed 10y the statement ol
pipar the squire made an examination n
the effects OF the deceased. In his trunk
were found number oi letters, one o
which was from his sister In Chicago
warning him to keep away nom al
socialists, as they had been the cause o.
all this trouble. Another letter was irOn
n brother. csniioning him not 10 writ,
home for fear his letters might bc inter
ccp,cd aud his whereabouts thus 10
ycaled; that his old home was watched
and advising him 10 act with caution an,
nut as great y distance between himsel
and Chicago ~ possible.